Switching device



Oct. '30, 1923.

H. E. TAYLOR SWITCHING DEVICE @Filed June 20. 192? l "LY l.3

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#www ray/0f my PatentedfOct. 30, 19213.

- A l ,1,472,503I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT B. TAYLOR, 01|? WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0WESTERNELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPQRATION0F NEW YORK.v

SWITCHING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I,HERBERT B. TAYLOR, acitizen of the United States, residing, at lVestfield, in the county ofUnion, Statev of New Jersey, have invented certain new ,and usefulImprovements in Switching Devlces, of which the following is a full,clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates in general to electrical switching devices and isdirected more particularly to devices of this character employed intelephone exchange .systems for interconnecting lines, trunks and other`circuits.

The object of the invention is an improved switching device ad-apted foruse in automa-tic and semi-automatic telephone systems to establishconnections between incoming lines and outgoing lines. v

A feature of the invention relates to the provision, in a mechanismhaving switching elements for` each of the several lines and a commonmember for operating said elements, -of means effective upon thesimultaneous selection of a plurality of switching elements foractuating said common operating member. j

Another feature of the invention relates to .an improved mechanicalarrangement whereby the individual switching elements are mechanicallyconnected to the common operating member. p

Other and further features and advantages contemplated by the presentinvention will become more clearly apparent from the detaileddescription given hereinafter and also from the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. l is a side view of the switchingmechanism illustratingv the structur-al arrangement of the several partsand showing also the construction of the terminal bank.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the several parts of theswitch in their operated condition with a set of mov- Vable terminalsadvanced into engagement with the cooperating stationary terminals.`Fig. 3 is a front view of the switching mechanism Ashowing the essentialparts thereof, wherein one of the switching elements is in its operatedcondition, while the remaining elements shown are in their normalpositions.

Fig. `4. is a schematicl outline of the circuit .are illustrated-asembodied in a switching mechanism, especially suited for theestablishment of connections involving a multiplicity of contacts, itiis obviously applic-able to switches required for many of the variouspurposes in telephone and similar systems. In its broadest aspectstheinvention relates to a switching apparatus for variously/establishing connections between a plurality of incoming lines and aplurality of outgoing lines.

Through the medium of link circuits, any one of the incoming lines maybe connected to any one of the outgoing lines. Owing to the constructionof the switch `the incoming and outgoing lines, which are inter'connected through the Ymedium of a link circuit, may be provided withany desired number of conductors and the connections may be made by theuse of bare wire contacts.-

The invention will best be understood from a detailed description of theswitch structure and of its circuit opera-tion which will now be given.

The swi-tch'consists of a suitable frame made up of angle irons 1 and 2and other members fashioned to receive and support the several parts ofthe mechanism. Considering first the arrangement of the terminal orcontact bank, the several lines, trunks or circuits, such as "thecircuit 40 4entering the switch, are provided with a set of plain barewire terminals which serve as the movable or active contacts. Each ofthese lines may comprise as many conductors as necessary yand eachconductorfis represented in the terminal bank by a movable bare wireterminal. The line 40 is illustrated with a plurality of conductors andcorresponding movable terminals 21, 22, 23, 24, etc. The movableterminals are supported in an insulating block 3 Iand project throughdiagonal apertures in a longitudinally slidable draw bar element 4.

The passive contacts or terminals of the switch consists of a pluralityof plain bare ,wires 26, 27, 28, 29, etc., which extend horizontallyacross the front of thel structure and are woven in and out among thevertical insulating strips 18, 19, 20, etc., in such aA way as to form agrid. The passive terminals 26, 27, 28, are spaced from each other andso disposed that the active terminal wires 21, 22, 23, extend andnormally reside in proximity to the respective passive terminal wires.This arrangement yis best seen in Fig. 1 where the active terminal wiresare in their normally released condition and out of Contact with therespective passive terminal wires of the grid.

The description above given explains the appearance of the circuit 40 inthe switch,

bars to cooperate with the stationary or passive terminal wires 26, 27.28, 29, etcf The draw bar, which is individuall to the line 40, issecured at its lower endI to the helical spring 31 attached to the angleiron 1. The upper end of the draw bar is provided with an aperturethrough which the hooked' end of the coupling or connecting member 9extends. The end of the connecting member 9 .is so fashioned that itpasses through the aperture in fthe upper end of the switching element 4and lits loosely .there-in to participate in a small amount of swingingor hinging motion with respect to the element' 4. The description justgiven for the draw bar 4 arid the associated elements all individual tothe particular line 40 also applies to the corresponding elements of theremaining lines represented in the switch. For example, the ,draw bars5,

6 and 7 are also attached to helical springs and are equipped'at theirupper ends with lie connecting members 32 33 and 34. For operating theindivi ual draw bars of the lines, there is provide a common operatingelectroma et l() 'of the structureI and having an armature 11 secured toa rotatable feather or ange 12. The flange element 12 v.is pivotedateither end so as to rotate through a slight angle under the infiuenceof the electromagnet 10. In order to associate the several draw bars 4,5, 6, 7, etc., with the common operating magnet l0, there are provided aseries of Y The individual selecting ,l electromagnets. electromagnet13, as shown in these figures, is individual to thedraw bar 4 and servesto associate that bar with the common electromagnet 10. Theotherselectin 14, 15 and 16 are likewise indivi ual to the respective drawbars 5, 6 and 7.

ounted on the topv magnets L Considering the particular selecting magnet13, the connecting member 9 attached to the upper end of the draw bar 4,is, like the remaining connecting members, of magnetic material and isdisposed .adjacent to the pole piece of said magnet 13 so as to form thearmature thereof. x Normally, the member 9 is held in the position shownin Fig. 1 by means of a spring 35 secured to the angle iron 2 suchthatthe hooked end of the member 9 lies out of the path of the flange.12.4

When, however, the electromagnet 13 is en- `erigized, it attracts themetallic member 9 against the pressure of spring 35 and places thehooked portion of said member 9 in the path of the llange 12 so that asubsequent rotation ofsaid flange causes t-he draw bar 4 to be liftedupwardly against the action of the helical spring 31.

In Fig. 2 the switch is shown in its operated condition. In order toconnect the incoming line 40 vto the conductors 2,6, 27, 28, etc., ofthe grid, it is first necessary to electrically energize the magnet 13to attract the connecting member 9. The member 9 rotates in its aperturein the draw bar 4 and moves into the line of the flange 12. Followingthis the common operating magnet 10 is energized and through itsIarmature 11 causes the flange 12 to lift the connecting member 9- andthe draw bar 4.upwardly. The upward movement of the draw bar 4 carriesthe movable contact wires 21, 22, 23 and 24 up and into contact withrespective stationary wires 26, 27, 28, 29. After encountering thesestationary wires the diago nal slots in member 4, through which themovable wires pass, cause these movable wires to ride over the surfaceof the stationary Wires. This insures a' good electrical contact. l

For bringing about circuit conditions, there is provided a set ofcontact springs 36, 37, 38, 39 54 and 55, suitably mounted on the Vframeof the switch. An insulating piece 41, secured'to the amature 11 of thecommon magnet-10, is arranged to engage the contact spring 38 each timethe magnet operates. The movement of the spring 38 causes it todisengage the spring 39, causes the spring 36 to disengage .the spring37 and" also causes spring 54 to engage spring 55.

Referring., to Fig. 4, an explanation will now be given of the circuitarrangement for operating the` switch,v Consider 'for example, that thetotal number of lines entering the switch are divided into two groups 42and 43. While the group 42 is illustrated as comprising six lines andgroup 43 comprising three lines, it is obvious that there may be as manylines. in either group as necessary. For instance, the lines 42 mayconstitute a group-of incoming lines and the lines 43 a group ofoutgoing linesor trunks or other circuits. In order to con- .lili

nect any incoming line to any outgoing line, all that is necessary ist-o mechanically connect the draw bars individual to the incoming andoutgoing lines, respectively, to the common operating flange 12 and thento energize the common operating magnet 10. lnthis way the draw bars ofthe lines are operated and the incoming line is connected through thegrid conductors which constitute a'link circuit to the desired outgoingline.

Assume, for example, that it is desired to connect the incoming line,represented by the draw bar 44, to the outgoing line, represented by thedraw bar 45. By any suitable selecting arrangement, which may becontrolled manually or automatically in response to impulses, a' circuitis closed for the individual selecting magnet 46 belonging to theincoming line. Also a circuit is closed for the individual selectingmagnet 47 belonging to the outgoing line. The circuit for magnet 46 maybe traced from battery, through the contact 48, winding of magnet 46,thence through the winding of relay 50, spring contacts 36 and 37 toground. The circuit for magnet 47 may be traced from battery, throughthe contact 49, winding of magnet 47 winding of relay 51, springcontacts 36 and 37 to ground. It will be noted that the relay 50 iscommon to all the selecting magnets relating to the group of incominglines 42 and is operated in series with any one of these. magnets. In alike manner the relay 51 is common to all the selecting magnetspertaining to the group of outgoing lines 43, Hence, when any selectingmagnet of an incoming lineand a selecting magnet of an outgoing line areenergized, both relays 50 and 51 are also o rated. With relays 50 and 51operated),e a circuit is closed from battery, through contacts of theserelays, the left-hand winding of the common operating magnet 10, springcontacts 39 and 38, to ground. 'Ilie magnet 10 becomes energized,rota-tes the flange member 12 and operates the draw bars 44 and 45 toconnect the incoming line through the link circuit to the outgoing line.Also, the magnet 10, upon operating, shifts the contact springs andthereby opens the circuits tliroughthe selecting magnets 46 and 47 andrelays 5() and 51. Before relays 50 and 51 have time to release to openthe circuit through tlie left-hand winding of magnet 10, the springcontacts 54 and 55 are closed to prepare the following holding circuitfor the magnet 10: battery, through said contacts 55 and 54,'left-handwinding of magnet 10, right-hand winding of said magnet and contact 56to ground.

When the connection isI no longer desired, the contact 56 may be openedin any well known mannerl to cause the deenergization of the commonmagnet 10, whereby the draw bars 44 and 45 are released and the incomingand outgoing lines disconnected from each other.

vWhat is claimed is:

1. The combination with a plurality of groups of lines, of a switchingmechanis having an individual switching element f2; each line', a commonoperating member, selecting devices individual to said switchingelements for connecting the same to the common operating member, acontrolling device for each group of lines, each controlling devicearranged for operation with the operation of any selecting device of thecorresponding group, and means jointly by said controlling devices forrendering said operating member effective.

2. The combination with a plurality of groups of lines, of a switchingmechanism having an individual switching bar for operating the contactsof each line, a common operating member, individual selectingdecontrolled vices for said bars for connecting the same to the commonoperating member, a controlling device for each group of lines, eachdevice arranged for operation with the operation of any selecting deviceof the corresponding group, and means controlled jointly by saidcontrolling devices for rendering said common operating member effectiveto actuate said bars.

for said switching bars for connecting the same to the common operatingmagnet, a controlling device for each group of lines, each devicearranged to be operated with the operation of any selecting magnet ofthe corresponding group. and means controlled jointly by saidcontrolling devices for rendering the common operating magnet effective.

4. The combination with a plurality of groups ot lines, of a switchingmechanism having an individual switching bar for each line for operatingthe contacts thereof, a common operating member and a common magnettherefor for actuating said switch. ing bars, individual selectingmagnets for said bars for connecting the4 same to said common operatingmember, a controlling relay for each group of lines, each relay arrangedto be operated with the operation of i any selecting magnet of thecorresponding group, and means controlled jointly by sai relays forrendering the common operating magnet effective.

5. The combination with a groupof incoming lines and a group of outgoinglines of a switching mechanism having individua switchlng bars for eachline, a common operating member, individual selecting devices for saidswitching bars for mechanically connecting the same to Said commonoperating membe-r, a controlling device for for said bars, and anelement pivotally at .tached to the end of each bar and controlledmagnetically by the corresponding magnet for mechanically connectingsaid bar to the common operating device.

7 The combination in a switching mecha nism of a frame, a plurality ofcontact operating bars arranged for longitudinal movement, a commonoperating device for' actuating any number of said bars, individualelectromagnets for selecting said b urs for operation, said magnetsbeing mounted upon the said rame,and a connecting element looselyattached to each of said bars for relative movement with respect theretoand magnetically controlled by the corresponding magnet for mechanicallyconnecting the bar with the common operating device.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 19th day of JuneA. D., 1922.

HERBERT B. TAYLOR.

